Santa Clara County sales tax to increase April 1, 2026
Santa Clara County voters have approved Measure A — a 0.625% general sales tax increase — in a special election. The new rate takes effect April 1, 2026, and will remain in place for five years.
Written by Alex Lamachenka
Head of DemandGen
Published
TL;DR
Santa Clara County is raising its sales tax by 0.625%, effective April 1, 2026. Voters passed Measure A in a special election with 57% approval. The increase is expected to generate $330 million annually for local healthcare and public safety services. The tax will expire after five years, on March 31, 2031.
What’s changing
- Effective date: April 1, 2026
- New rate: +0.625% general sales tax in Santa Clara County
- Voter approval: Measure A passed with 57% of the vote
- Duration: Temporary — expires March 31, 2031
- Use of funds: Supports trauma care, ERs, mental health services, and public safety
It’s important to note that Measure A adds to the overall sales tax rate but does not alter the existing breakdown of where current taxes go.
- 7.25% — State of California sales tax
- 0.125% — Santa Clara County (pre-Measure A)
- 1.75% — Valley Transportation Authority and Caltrain (independent agencies)
Who this affects
- Retailers and eCommerce sellers with customers in Santa Clara County
- Finance teams forecasting Q2 sales tax liability
- Platforms needing to update POS and tax rate tables in advance of April 1, 2026
Why this matters
This is a sizable increase — especially for a county that already had one of the higher combined rates in California. A 0.625% hike will compound over time, particularly for high-volume sellers, subscription businesses, and B2B vendors. And while the increase is technically temporary, many voters and political commentators are skeptical that it will expire on schedule.
For TaxCloud users
If you use TaxCloud, you’re covered. TaxCloud updates rate tables automatically — including local and county-level changes in all states. Manual updates not required.
Next steps
- Flag this for April 1, 2026 — ensure all systems and rate tables update on time
- If you use TaxCloud, you’re covered — we’ll automatically update the county rate
- For fixed or negotiated-price contracts: consider reviewing how the tax increase may affect margins, invoices, or rate cards
- Monitor for additional county tax increases in high-population California counties
Official sources:
- 1.
Disclaimer
TaxCloud provides sales tax compliance solutions. We do not provide legal or tax advice. For questions about your specific tax situation or filing requirements, we recommend consulting a qualified sales tax accountant.
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